FOREIGN TRADE UNIVERSITYHO CHI MINH CAMPUS MID-COURSE INTERNSHIP REPORT Major: International Finance and Banking HOME LOAN CREDIT APPRAISAL AND LENDING FOR PERSONAL CUSTOMERS AT CT GROUP
Overview of home loan process for personal customer at CT Group
CT Group's home loan processing hinges on seamless cross-department coordination among the ASD, accounting, CRM, legislation, IT, and personal finance teams Each department contributes critical steps—from data collection and financial analysis to compliance verification and digital workflow management—ensuring accurate decisions and smooth processing In particular, the personal finance department acts as the central linchpin, overseeing borrower assessment, loan structuring, and ongoing client communication to drive efficient approvals and a better lending experience.
CT Group’s loan policy offers financing with a maximum term of 10 years (120 months), with monthly payments covering both principal and interest The initial interest rate is 10% for the first year and is adjusted every two years thereafter, with the revised rate equal to Vietcombank’s 12-month savings deposit rate plus a 5.5% margin Rates are determined and classified by product type, and some loan products allow a loan-to-value (LTV) up to 70% of the apartment value The Personal Finance Officer (PFO) encourages borrowers to contribute at least 30% of the property cost as equity, with the remaining amount financed by the investor.
Eligible customers must be between 20 and 50 years old with a stable monthly income to meet loan conditions, with income sources and any existing debt verified through a partner bank of CT Group Applicants must show no outstanding loans at the time of application and must not belong to group 2 or higher bad debts in the previous 12 months In cases with a past bad debt but a solid payment history, the Personal Finance Office (PFO) may consider lending according to the credit rating method The Personal Finance Department assesses the loan amount based on the borrower's repayment capacity and forwards the evaluation to the executive board for approval, using a Debt-To-Income (DTI) based approach.
Table 2 1 Evaluation approach of home loan in CT Group
No Income (million VND) Monthly payment
CT Group presents the home loan process, as illustrated in the figure below, comprising 11 steps, with the intake and approval of each loan application fully digitized through the Investor's loan acceptance and approval software.
Figure 2 1 Credit extension process for home loans at CT Group
Receiving loan applications from customers.
Post-disbursement management (Periodic collection of debt according to the loan contract, Handling overdue debt, problem debt, bad debt, )
Liquidate loan contracts and notify customers.
Steps of credit appraisal of home loan for personal customer at CT Group
Step 1: Legal assessment
Following collaboration between the ASD and CRM teams to share home loan customer information, the Finance department collects the customer records and introduces applicants to the company's loan regulations After these steps are completed, the loan appraisal process begins under the supervision of the Personal Finance department.
At the outset of the loan application, a Personal Customer Officer (PFO) inspects the applicant’s legal documents to determine eligibility in line with CT Group’s lending standards and regulations The documents typically required for this initial assessment include an Identification Card/Passport, Household Registration Book, Confirmation of Temporary Residence (if applicable), and a Certificate of Marital Status/Marriage Certificate, with additional legal papers requested as needed for the appraisal The PFO then collects further information on identity, income, and any loan repayment history at credit institutions (if any), and provides guidance on the specific documents required to complete the evaluation.
Step 2: Appraising creditworthiness
After gathering the necessary documents in Step 1, the next phase is to verify and validate the information and identify the relevant data The primary focus is the creditworthiness analysis, with the PFO responsible for assessing the customer’s reliability The creditworthiness evaluated here is based on the customer’s historical credit activity with CT Group, partner banks, and other credit institutions.
If a borrower has previously transacted with CT Group, their information is archived in the Core Financing System and may be accessed through that system Based on this data source, the PFO conducts an investigation and analysis of the customer’s transaction records, creditworthiness, loan details, payment methods, and the frequency of delinquent bills.
When borrowers have no recorded transactions with the company but have previous credit relationships with other financial institutions, their data is retrieved from the Credit Information Center (CIC), a leading credit bureau that provides credit scores and credit reports to consumers This information helps the company assess a client's credit rating and history, and is cross-checked against details supplied by the borrower In credit evaluations, system data on credit history is a crucial component, with CT Group regulations mandating a review of loan history information from the last 12 months.
Step 3: Appraising loan application
After completing and approving the customer’s credibility assessment, the next step is to conduct additional investigation into the customer’s loan application In line with the current State Bank of Vietnam Law and CT Group lending standards and regulations, the loan must be evaluated for its purpose, with careful checks on loan size, collateral type, loan term, and the accompanying documents—sales contracts, quotation contracts, and invoices.
The loan purpose must be practical, consistent with the regulations and financial conditions of the customer and the business in particular and the economy in general.
Step 4: Assessment of proof of income and repayment capability
To ensure that each customer presents legally valid and sufficient proof of income and the ability to repay, the PFO conducts a careful assessment of several factors: the viability of the business project; projected profits, operating revenue, and other capital inflows that affect repayment; internal and external factors impacting the business plan; and the debt coverage ratio (PNI), which is determined and compounded to demonstrate the borrower’s repayment capacity or potential inability to repay.
The primary criterion for evaluating a customer is the source of their personal income, and the PFO conducts an in-depth review and verification of income-related documents, including lease contracts, car rental contracts, certificates of land use rights, and house ownership certificates to assess the reliability and legitimacy of the applicant’s income.
The PFO ensures the rationality and suitability of the reported income by conducting a pricing survey of related income sources It also anticipates all family expenses over the loan period, including cost of living, credit card interest, and loan debt repayments, and computes the net income available for loan repayment by subtracting these expenses from the reported income This net income serves as the key factor in evaluating creditworthiness and guiding the final lending decision.
Step 5: Preparing credit appraisal report
After reviewing all criteria in the preceding phases, the PFO determines the borrower's credit rating The PFO then enters all collected and assessed data into CT Group's Credit Rating System and moves to the final stage of the credit appraisal by generating the appraisal report, which serves as the fundamental and mandatory document guiding the entire credit process.
The report comprises six core parts: first, loan details including the customer’s information, lending method, loan amount, and loan purpose; second, detailed customer information covering background, family circumstances, and credit rating; third, the loan method; fourth, the source of repayment; fifth, a risk analysis with risk mitigation measures based on verified income and repayment capability; and sixth, PFO’s comments and suggestions presented at the opening of the report.
This report consolidates all relevant client and loan information to support a thorough loan evaluation and credit assessment In addition to factual data, the PFO can provide remarks and recommendations on loans to guide decision-making As a result, the Appraisal Office and Manager can decide on approval or decline more quickly, boosting the efficiency of the credit extension process.
Discussion of credit appraisal of home loan for personal customer at CT Group
Strengths
CT Group has established a credit appraisal process that is reasonable, concise, and clear, yet fully functional, coherent, and confidential, delivering an efficient and trustworthy framework for lenders and borrowers alike This streamlined credit assessment saves time for both customers and the company, accelerates the next steps, and enables timely disbursement, thereby enhancing the overall customer experience.
The home loan process of CT group is considered modern because the accessing and analyzing operations are all done digitally This makes the process quick and, moreover, tight, logical and secure All data and processes are uniformly executed and recorded on the entire 4.0 system of the company (calling ERP and SurePortal), therefore, the PFO can perform the due diligence tasks smoothly and easily.
Furthermore, the close coordination between departments in the company is highly appreciated, making the work more efficient and unified And in the final step of the appraisal process, the final decision made by superiors/managers demonstrate the specialization in the distribution of responsibilities On the other hand, the distinctive part that I really appreciate in the home loan credit appraisal is in the last step: preparing the credit appraisal report, which is PFO's recommendations and suggestions This demonstrates the absorption of opinions and information from many perspectives rather than one-sidedness, and also maximizes the approval process’s efficiency.
Limitations and explanations
There is no denying that CT Group has applied technology and digitized data in the home loan process, as well as in its internal and financial operations However, the rapid adoption of technology combined with gaps in expertise introduces several hazards—such as information leakage, system failures, data scarcity, and network security risks—that can complicate the PFO's ability to investigate and locate data effectively.
Resource shortages place a heavy burden on the PFO, who must oversee the entire loan application process from start to finish, spanning numerous demanding stages When the PFO is also juggling multiple and complex tasks, the evaluation can become less thorough, increasing the risk that important information is overlooked or incomplete As a result, the evaluation process may not be as deep as needed, leading to omissions that affect loan decisions Additionally, the concentrated responsibility for the appraisal process can give rise to inadvertent ethical issues and moral risks throughout the workflow Addressing these challenges involves better resource allocation, streamlined procedures, and safeguards that help preserve thoroughness and integrity in loan evaluations.
THE OUTLOOK, ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND
The outlook of CT Group Vietnam
CT Group is a multi-industry firm where real estate plays a significant role in its development, while the company also expands into banking and other sectors to diversify capital mobilization beyond real estate alone By sourcing capital from multiple streams, CT Group ensures cash flow comes from varied avenues, reducing financing risks and shielding the group from potential funding shortages Consequently, CT Group uses home loans not only for commercial purposes but as part of a broader, diversified financial strategy.
Offering home loans strengthens a real estate company's customer relations and differentiates it from other real estate organizations Since both clients and the firm benefit, a home loan is not only an indispensable and distinct service but also a strategic lever to boost business growth Taken together, home loans create favorable conditions to attract a broader client base, satisfy customer needs, and drive profitability for the organization.
CT Group faces a compelling opportunity to enter the financial sector by starting with core financial services Beginning with essential offerings enables the company to build experience and gradually expand into broader categories This phased growth provides a solid foundation for diversifying the business, widening its horizons, and scaling operations By embracing the 4.0 technological revolution, CT Group can stay ahead in digital transformation and drive ongoing innovation in finance.
Although finance is not CT Group's core industry and has only been explored and developed in recent years, the company must build deeper expertise to expand its financial operations This nascent stage will bring professional, specialist, and administrative challenges, particularly in home loans and across CT Group's financial activities To meet these challenges and capitalize on growth opportunities, CT Group will implement targeted strategies and necessary modifications, investing in talent, processes, and technology to strengthen its financial capabilities and support sustainable expansion.
Over the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has driven significant shifts for CT Group, affecting human resources, project progress, and overall operations The company’s net income has fallen sharply, underscoring the need to prioritize post-pandemic recovery As CT Group works to rebuild, return to prior levels, and continue growing, it will face certain hurdles that require sustained effort Looking ahead, the organization should anticipate similar unforeseeable changes and implement a robust strategy to manage these challenges effectively.
Orientation for development of CT Group
CT Group marked its 30th anniversary and was honored with the First-class Labour Medal awarded by the Vice President on June 29, 2022, a recognition that honors past achievements and fuels ongoing innovation Looking ahead, CT Group’s development orientation embraces Industry 4.0, prioritizes technology modernization, and concentrates on core sectors such as finance and retail while expanding into high-tech fields, including medical and cell technology, through the establishment of Vietnam Gene & Cell Technology JSC (VGCT).
CT Group should establish a home loan service in partnership with banks and other financial institutions This collaboration reduces processing time and required human resources while strengthening relationships with banking partners By outsourcing lending to partner banks, the service benefits from greater expertise and credibility, which lowers risk and mitigates potential issues The result is faster, more reliable home financing with improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Beyond pursuing research and development across new industries, fields, and strategies, the company must stay focused on current activities, integrate commercial operations, and strengthen retail capabilities to establish a robust framework for long-term growth It should also preserve and expand the existing domestic industry while pursuing careful, measured expansion into international markets.
3.3 Recommendations for improvement of home loan credit appraisal of personal customers at CT Group
Human resources are a key factor in administration, finance activities, and the credit appraisal process CT Group has adopted modern technology, equipment, and digitized information, improving product quality, promotional services, and preferential policies for customers; meanwhile, meetings and exchanges with customers are typically accomplished through direct, person-to-person interactions between PFO and clients The appraisal process is fully conducted and overseen by the PFO This highlights the central role of human resources for the organization In the new technology era, a qualified and professional workforce is not enough; employees must adapt to a high-tech environment, demonstrate analytical thinking, and be fluent in foreign languages and informatics Additionally, CT Group, being relatively new to the financial sector, needs to invest more in recruitment and training.
Streamlined and informative recruitment processes, supported by a quick and energetic HR response to candidates, cultivate a sense of belonging within the organization The company should provide regular professional training and ongoing guidance for PFOs to help them adapt to tasks and technology in their daily roles By ensuring employees acquire the essential expertise, the Group can sustain continuous development and drive long-term growth.
Credit appraisal requires a high degree of accuracy and involves lengthy, multi-step processes with a large volume of information Although technology has aided the process, current systems remain fairly rudimentary and cannot fully support remote operations for decision makers As online work becomes increasingly popular for saving time and offering flexibility—especially among younger staff—businesses are turning to digital solutions to keep up with global trends Upgrading technology is key to modernization, helping the company stay competitive and attract top talent in the near future.
CT Group should strengthen IT recruitment and training while digitizing the entire system so that departments can operate online in unison and support each other seamlessly, and it should upgrade its information storage system to capture more customer data with clearer structure and universal access across departments The business should implement a strategic plan to invest in modern, advanced technology tools and provide comprehensive staff training so employees can effectively leverage these features Deploying the right technology in management and information processing is essential for improving operational workflows, empowering teams to develop and exploit superior technological capabilities, and saving time for both customers and employees.
In a competitive, integrated economy, CT Group has adopted a new approach to deliver a superior customer experience and broaden prospects while increasing the commercial potential of its products, notably the home loan service This offering is an indispensable and distinctive component of the real estate sector, delivering high efficiency for partner institutions and spurring growth across related industries In the home loan process, typically led by the Personal Finance Division, credit appraisal acts as a key step that underpins effective credit management and rigorous risk evaluation.
The report highlights the home loan process, with emphasis on CT Group’s credit appraisal procedure as the second step, and describes the activities involved to provide both an overall and a thorough, comprehensive overview of this profession.
CT Group’s home loan credit appraisal process offers substantial opportunities and benefits, delivering a reasonable, concise, clear, fully functional, coherent, and confidential evaluation that supports informed lending decisions Like any enterprise, it faces internal and external limitations, including the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, rising network security risks, and the challenge of attracting and retaining qualified talent In response, the company is continually investing in development and innovation to adapt to modernization, leveraging Industry 4.0 to unlock new potential and meet evolving demands while navigating obstacles and challenges.
During my internship at CT Group, I joined the Personal Finance Division of the Department of Finance, a valuable opportunity to learn the real working environment This report, “Home loan credit appraisal and lending for personal customers at CT Group,” draws on company documents, data, and my observations to present a grounded view of the home loan credit process I truly appreciate the experience and hope my recommendations can contribute to strengthening CT Group’s credit evaluation procedures for personal customers.